Extension-table



No. 627,364. Patented lune 2o, |899. w. T. TEMPLE.

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` 'UNIT-.ED STATES ATENT @Fri-cr..

WALTER T. TEMPLE, OF OHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,364, dated June 20, 1899.

Application iiled March 24, 1899. Serial No. 710.362.' (No model.) Y

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER T. TEMPLE, a lcitizen of the vUnited States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county ofjHamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Extension-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of extension-tables in which provision is made for nesting the leaves which are not in use beneath the top; andA the same consists in the features of construction and in the combination or arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings,jin which-- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the table. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing theunder side of one of the end sections and the leaves connected thereto. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one set of slides shown in closed position. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

My improved table is made up of a stationary central section 1 and movable end sections 2 3, respectively, the central section 1 being supported by legs 4and the end sections 2 3 supported by legs 5 l6. The central section 1 comprises a top 7 and vertical side rails or rims 3, secured thereto, with the upper ends of said rails overlapping the sideedges of said top and rounded, as shown. The end sections 2 3 are made up of top strips 9 1,0, respectively, and end rails or rims 11 12, connected to the top strips 9 10 in 'a similar man ner to the connection between the rails 8 and top 7. The'end sections 2 3 are connected to the stationary central section 1 by means of four slides, two oneach side of the table, each slide being made up of three members 13 14 y15, the member 13 being secured to the inner sideY of the side rail or rim 8, with its upper edge located slightly below the, lower surfacev of the top 7. Adjacent to one end. of the member 13 is aleaf-guide 16, which in the form illustrated is made up of a block having an inclined inner Wall and a rounded upper and outer wall. The height of said guide is equal to the distance between the upper edge of the slide member 13, to which it is secured,

and the lower surface of the top 7. The slide member 15 is secured to section 2 by means of a block 17, which is screwed or otherwise rigidly `a-ttached to both the top strip 9 and the end rail or rim 11. The intermediate slide member 14 is provided adjacent to one endv thereof With-a leaf-guide 13, similar to the leaf-guide 16 on the member 1 3, except that the upper outer wall thereof need not be rounded.v

'It will be understood thatthe foregoing description relating to the slide members 13 14 15 applies to each one of the four slides 4which the table contains. As all of these slides, however,are similar,a description of one is deemed snfiicient. Connected to each of the end sections 2 3of the table is a seriesof slats 19 20; but as the leaves upon each section are similar a description of those upon the section 2 only .will be given. The leaf 1,9, is flexibly connected to the top strip 9 by means of straps, tapes, cords, or other analogous devices 21, the said strap being connectedto said top strip at a point adjacent to its outer edge for a purpose which will presently appear.

The leaves 1'9 and 2O are iiexiblyvconnected to each other by straps, tapes, cords, or other analogous devices 22,I as clearly shown. The lower side of the leaf 19 is provided at each end with'a groove 23 of ysufficient width to receive bot-h the leaf-guides 16 and 18 heretofore referred to, and said groove extends from the outer edge of said leaf and terminates at a point some distance short of its inner edge, the same having an inclined bottom Wall, as shown; The said leaf 19 is also provided with a groove 24 adjacent to each of its ends, the said groove having aronnded convex ,bottom wall. The leaf20 is provided with a groove 25 on its under side adjacent to each end, which groove` is similarto the groove 23 on the leaf 19, the same being adapted to receive the leaf-guide 16 on the slide member 13. on the top strip 9, and dowel-pins 27 28 are provided on the outer edges of the top 7 and leaf 20, respectively, the same fitting correspondin g openings in the adjacent parts. Secured to the under side of the top 7 adjacent to its central portion is a cleat 29, which constitutes a stop for limiting the inward movements of the leaves on both end sections.

Leaf-supports 26 26 are formed ICO Constructed as above described the operation of my improved table is as follows: If, for example, the end sections are closed and it is desired to open the same, and therebyl extend the table, power will be applied, say, to section 2 and be resisted by the central section 1, the result being that said sections 1 and 2 will be separated, the section 2 carrying with it the leaves 19 and 20, to which it is llexibly connected. As it cannot be ascertained in advance whether the member 15 of the slide will move outwardly in advance of the member 14 orboth members 14 and 15 move outwardly simultaneously, it is necessary that the groove 23 in the leaf 19 be wide enough to bridge across both of the leafguides 16 and 18. As the leaf 19 is drawn outwardly in the manner described the outer edge thereof will iirst be elevated by its engagement with the leaf-guide 16 or 18 until said guide passes out of said groove at the end thereof adjacent to its 'inclined bottom wall, when said leaf will be on a level with the top 7 and the top strip 9. If it be desired to extend the table only the width of the leaf 19, downward pressure is applied to the outer edge thereof, which causes the same to rest along said edge upon the leaf-supports 2G on the top strip 9, and inward pressure toward the stationary section 1 is applied to the end section 2 until the outer edge of the top 7 and the inner edge of the leaf 19 are brought in line with each other. It may then be necessary to elevate the inner edge of the leaf 19 tto bring the upper surface of said j leaf adjacent to said edge in the plane of the upper surface of the top 7 when the dowelpins 27 are inserted into the corresponding holes or openings in the leaf 19. It will be understood that while the action above described is taking place the leaf 2O remains in place beneath the top 7, supported upon the upper edges of the slide members 13. If it be desired to extend the table a distance equal to the width of both of the leaves 19 and 20, the outward movement of the movable end section 2 is continued, bringing the leaf-guides 16 into engagement with the grooves 25 in said leaf 20, causing the latter to be elevated first at its outer edge and afterward brought up on a level with the leaf 19 and the top 7. Inward movement of the end section 2 will then cause locking engagement between the dowel-pins 27 in the top 7 and the corresponding openings in the inner edge of the leaf 20, the said leaf beingsupported at its outer edge upon the leaf-guides 16. rlhe leaf 19 is at this time supported along its outer edge upon the leaf-supports 2G and alongits inner edge by the dowel-pins 28 on the outer edge of the leaf 20. Of course said dowel-pins 28 may be`dispensed with and the innerends of the leaf 19 supported merely upon the leaf-guides 18. It will be understood, of course, that after the leaf 19 has been removed from its seat beneath the top 7 by the outward movement of the end seetion 2 the power to remove and elevate the leaf 20 should be applied, preferably, to the leaf 19, which will in turn transmit its movement to said end section 2, this being for the purpose not only of removing the strain from the llexible connections 21, but to retain the leaf 19 upon the leafsupports 2o'. It will also be understood that as the center of gravity ofl the leaf 2O when in its raised position is to one side of the leaf-guide 1G, upon which said leaf is supported when raised, it is necessary to elevate the inner edge of the leaf 2O by hand in order to bring the openings in it in line with the dowel-pins 27 in the top 7.

To return the parts to their normal positions, slight outward movement must be given to the end section 2 in order to disconnect the dowel-pins 27 and 28, provided the latter are used, from the corresponding openings in which they Iit. The inner edge of the leaf 2O will then drop by gravity upon the upper edges of the slide members 13, on which it is intended to rest. Inward movement of the section 2 will by the engagement of the leaves 19 and 20 force the leaf 2O to its seat, the same being guided and gradually lowered by the engagement of the guides 16 with the grooves 25 in said leaf. As inward movement of the leaf 19 is continued, however, the inner edge thereof will be brought into engagement with the outer edges of the guides 1G; but the same will ride up over said guides by reason of the provision of the grooves 24: in the leaf 19 with the rounded upper and outer edges of the guides 1G. When the movable section 2 has reached a position adjacent to the stationary section 1, both of the leaves 19 and 2O will be nested beneath the top 7, being supported upon the slide member 13. The top 7 and the top strip 9 are united evenly and with a close joint by the engagement of the dowelpins 27 with the corresponding openings in said top strip 9. The point of connection of the flexible tapes 21 being made on the top strip 9 adjacent to the outer edge of said strip, it will be evident thatA said strip may pass inwardly beyond the leaf 19 for the purpose of connecting with the top 7.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is

1. An extension-table comprising movable end sections and a stationary intermediate section, slides connecting said end and intermediate sections, each comprising a stationary member secured to the intermediate section, a longitudinally-movable member connected to each of the end sections, and an intermediate member slidingly connected to the other two members,leafguides on the ends of said stationary and said intermediate movable members, and leaves flexibly connected to said end sections and adapted to ride upon and be supported by said leaf-guides on the ends of said stationary and movable slide members, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Anextension-table comprising movable IOO IIO

end sections and a stationary intermediate section, slides connecting said end and intermediate sections, each comprising a stationary member secured to the intermediate section, a longitudinally-movable member connected to each of the end sections, and an intermediate member slidingly connected to the other two members,leafguides on the ends of said stationary and said intermediate movable members, and leaves iieXibly connected to said end sections and provided with grooves in their lower sides having inclined bottom walls in which said leaf-guides are adaptedto it, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An extension-table comprising movable end sections, an intermediate stationary section, side rails or rims on said movable and stationary sections, slides connecting said movable and stationary sections, each made up of a member secured to the inner surface of the side rail on said stationary section, coi1= stituting a support forl the leaves beneath the top on said stationary section, a longitudi; nally-movable member secured to each of said end sections, and an intermediate member slidingly connected to the other members, inclined leaf-guides secured to the ends of said stationary and said intermediate movable members, and leaves ieXibly connected to said end sections and provided with grooves in their lower sides having inclined walls in which said leaf-guides are adapted to lit, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER T. TEMPLE.

Witnesses:

S. Gr. LAWRENCE, CHAs. F. GRAIN. 

